Everyone has heard horror stories about botched plastic surgeries. These stories are the exception and not the norm, as most surgical cases are very successful to a high percentage of patients. So now you may be thinking about liposuction, breast augmentation or an eyelid lift and you would probably move forward with the surgery if you knew that you would receive optimal results. It is important to know that nothing is guaranteed, including procedures for plastic surgery. For those that are serious about having surgery then this post is designed to inform and educate people with information from inside the Operating Room.

Let’s start with the physician. Everyone looking into surgery knows that it is important to have a good plastic surgeon, but in many cases people have procedures done at facilities rated lower than others, performed by surgeons rated lower than others. I’ve seen this as the case hundreds of times and often wonder if it was because the patient didn’t do their research about their procedure. So not only do I see many people not going to the right facility or having the best doctor alter their bodies forever, but no one seems to know how important the other people in the room with the doctor are as well.

I have been an Surgical Technician and First Assistant in surgery since 1996 where I have helped perform hundreds of plastic surgery cases - from breast augmentations to total free flap procedures. What makes my role so important to what you need to know is that the Certified First Assistant acts as an extra set of hands for the surgeon, from the opening of the case to the final suturing of the wound site. When people learn about this they seemed shocked and upset at the thought of someone other than their surgeon performing something important parts of surgery without ever meeting them. Some would be bold enough to say that they would tell the doctor that, armed with this knowledge, they only want their surgeon involved with their case. And in reply I usually smile and reply, “Many First Assistants are actually just as skilled at certain aspects of surgery as the Surgeon.” Just as it is important to learn as much as you can during your consult, it is also important to find out about the staff involved in your surgical procedure.

Know exactly what is being done during your stay at the surgical facility as well as the personnel involved with the procedure. Besides the few minutes right before your surgery you will not know most of the people who are involved in your case, most importantly the anesthesiologist who is actually responsible for keeping you alive while you are incapable of breathing for yourself. You also have absolutely no idea what kind of circulating nurse will be responsible for the sterility and medications that the doctors use for your procedure.

You may have the best plastic surgeon in the world; unfortunately, if the supporting staff is not very good then you could still end up being a case profiled on 60 minutes. For years I have begged my family and friends to let me know when they are going to have any type of surgery so that I could make sure that they are at the most appropriate facility with the best doctors and supporting staff available. Since then I have decided to start this service for other people too with a website that is dedicated to providing information on having plastic surgery in Milwaukee.

PlasticSurgeryMilwaukee.net is specifically designed to offer information on plastic surgical procedures from highly trained specialists who want to connect you with the most qualified professionals possible.

Zeus Rodriguez has worked in 7 different hospitals and assisted well over 100 surgeons in most specialties, from Cardio-Thoracic to Neuro-Surgery for the past 13 years.